RESIDENTS in many parts of Oldham still have a worryingly low life expectancy when compared to the rest of the country.

Last year the Advertiser exclusively reported on the borough's great health and social divide, with people in some wards living up to nine years longer than those in less affluent areas.

Despite a continuing upward trend in life expectancy at birth, 12 months on the figures in this year's Public Health Report show that the huge gap remains and Oldham still falls well below the average for England and Wales.

At present, on average, the men of Oldham can expect to live 73.8 years, with women living until they are 78.8 years old.

Though an increase on last year, this equates to men living nearly three years less, and women two years less, than their counterparts across England and Wales, who are expected to live to 76.5 and 80.8 years respectively.

Saddleworth residents still live much longer than people in most other parts of the borough, with a mortality rate of between 78.74 years to 81.21 years. This healthy rate is shared by residents in Lees and Crompton.

However, residents in neighbouring Shaw, Alexandra, Werneth and Coldhurst could die 11 years earlier with a life expectancy of between 69.96 to 75.74 years.

Alan Higgins, director of public health for Oldham, said: "Life expectancy for men and women in Oldham has improved over the last year, but it is true that the gap between people here and in other parts of the country is still too big - as is the gap between some parts of Oldham and others.

"We are continuing to work to improve services for people with some of the biggest killer diseases, such as cancer, lung and circulatory disease. But what we must increasingly do is try and tackle some of the major causes of these diseases, such as smoking and excessive drinking.

"We need to get people to quit smoking, cut the amount they drink, eat more healthily and take more exercise. And we are doing this."

The report showed that Oldham's biggest killers for all ages between 2003 and 2005 continue to be circulatory disease at 38 per cent - down from 41 per cent in 2002-2004 - and cancer at 24 per cent. Respiratory disease, at 16 per cent, is also a worry.

Nevertheless, it is the inequalities in life expectancy that remain the major issue, and if things continue at the same rate it is predicted that the mortality target for 2010 will be missed.

The PCT has a number of schemes in place in an attempt to bridge the widening gap and says it hopes to build extensively on this in the next year or so.

Schemes introduced include the 'Up Your Street' campaign launched to give people advice on what sort of exercise or activity would suit them, a 'Food Network' between schools and businesses, as well as exercise and healthy cooking courses, community sports leadership awards, obesity programme for teenagers to name a few.

THE source of information for this year's report is the 'You and Your Community Survey' launched last year. Commissioned jointly by the PCT and Oldham Council the survey gathers information on lifestyle and behaviour with respect to alcohol use, smoking, healthy eating, physical activity, mental health and well being, sexual health and dental health. These will be looked at in detail in next week's issue.